NEWCASTLE
If Newcastle United are to sign Feyenoord striker Nicolai Jorgensen, they are going to have to significantly increase the £14m offer that has been rejected by the Dutch club.
Feyenoord turned down the Magpies’ initial bid for Jorgensen earlier in the week, and are understood to be holding out for at least €20m for the Denmark international.
Loading article content
That would mean Newcastle breaking their transfer record, and while sources close to Mike Ashley claim he is willing to do that, similar pledges have been made in the past and come to nothing.
One of Newcastle’s alternative attacking targets has already dropped off their wanted list, with Leicester City’s Islam Slimani set to join Monaco.
Moncao are set to pay a loan fee of £2.6m for the Algeria international, but Leicester were always adamant they would not loan Slimani to another Premier League club this month.
Newcastle have also been linked with Davie Selke, who has scored nine goals in 16 starts for Hertha Berlin this season.
SUNDERLAND
The next 24 hours are likely to prove crucial to Sunderland’s pursuit of Chris Martin, with the Derby striker due to return from his club’s training camp in Dubai.
Martin has been offered a loan move to the Stadium of Light, but has spent the last week pondering his options.
He has been told he is surplus to requirements at Derby following the arrival of Cameron Jerome, but Reading have also discussed a potential loan move and Championship leaders Wolves are also understood to be interested in acquiring his services.
Sunderland boss Chris Coleman has also been looking at goalkeepers, with Leeds’ Andy Lonergan having emerged as a potential option.
Lonergan has not played for Leeds since November, with Felix Wiedwald having cemented his place as the Elland Road club’s number one shot-stopper.
MIDDLESBROUGH
Could Martin Braithwaite be leaving Middlesbrough just six months after moving to Teesside from Toulouse?
It would have seemed extremely unlikely just a few weeks ago, but Tony Pulis appointment has changed things, with Braithwaite having found himself on the substitutes’ bench for last weekend’s win at QPR.
Bordeaux are interested in taking the Denmark international back to France, and with Pulis keen to reduce the size of his squad by at least another two or three players this month, a deal is not impossible.
Bordeaux have also been in talks with West Ham about Diafra Sakho, and the Hammers striker is understood to be their number one target this month.
The Ligue 1 club would like to sign Sakho on loan, with a view to a £7m permanent signing in the summer, but if that is not possible, Braithwaite is set to be the next player in their sights.
OTHER CLUBS
Manchester City fans could be left shocked at the prospect of losing their star striker, Sergio Aguero. The Sun reports that a possible deal may be in place to send the Argentinian back to Atletico Madrid in the summer.
While it would seem unlikely boss Pep Guardiola would want to lose the 29-year-old, the Spanish club are looking for someone to team up with Diego Costa, and Atletico striker Antoine Griezmann is on City's radar - setting up a possible switch, the paper says.
Meanwhile, Aymeric Laporte looks set to be heading for the Premier league after telling bosses at Athletic Bilbao he is ready to move to Manchester City.
After a previous deal fell through in 2016 due to injury, the 23-year-old has now signalled he is fit for the move, according to the Daily Mail. The central defender looks likely to sign a five-year deal next week after City agreed to meet the release clause in his contract, the paper reports.
Guido Carrillo appears to be heading for the English top flight after Monaco agreed to a deal with Southampton, the Telegraph says. While the ink is not dry on any sale, it is thought a £19.2m bid has secured the deal, giving Saints fan something to look forward to as the club seeks to strengthen its attack.
The sale of Virgil van Dijk to Liverpool earlier this month has also opened up the opportunity to place a reported record £30m bid for Spartak Moscow's Quincy Promes, according to the paper.
An overcrowded squad at Inter could be good news for West Ham as the Hammers look set to sign midfielder Joao Mario, according to the Independent.
As David Moyes looks to bolster his central midfield, Mario appears to be a perfect fit and a preliminary agreement looks set to be in place for the player who joined the Italian club two years ago for about £34m.
Axel Tuanzebe could soon be swapping Manchester United for Aston Villa as a loan deal nears completion, the Express reports. After just three starts this season, Steve Bruce convinced Jose Mourinho to think about loaning out the player to the Championship side until the end of the season to give the 20-year-old more playing time and experience. The deal could be completed by this weekend.